Colts head coach Chuck Pagano celebrates with Mewelde Moore (37) and Teddy Williams (21) as the Colts run out the clock on a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans.

Colts head coach Chuck Pagano celebrates with Mewelde Moore (37) and Teddy Williams (21) as the Colts run out the clock on a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Texans defensive back Brandon Harris (26) commits a pass interference penalty on a pass intended for Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (87) during the first quarter. The penalty gave the Colts the ball on the Houston 1-yard line, setting up a touchdown. less

Texans defensive back Brandon Harris (26) commits a pass interference penalty on a pass intended for Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (87) during the first quarter. The penalty gave the Colts the ball on the ... more

Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano acknowledges cheers from the crowd beforethe game. Pagano returned to the sidelines on Sunday for the first time since week 3 after undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano acknowledges cheers from the crowd beforethe game. Pagano returned to the sidelines on Sunday for the first time since week 3 after undergoing treatment for leukemia.

A Texans fan takes photos of the stadium as the Colts mascot sits nearby.

A Texans fan takes photos of the stadium as the Colts mascot sits nearby.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Texans linebacker Brooks Reed watches from the sidelines. Despite saying all week he was on track to play, Reed is inactive for the game. He suffered a torn groin against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

Texans linebacker Brooks Reed watches from the sidelines. Despite saying all week he was on track to play, Reed is inactive for the game. He suffered a torn groin against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

Texans running back Arian Foster warms up in front of a sign for the Colts CHUCKSTRONG leukemia research fundraiser in honor of head coach Chuck Pagano.

Texans running back Arian Foster warms up in front of a sign for the Colts CHUCKSTRONG leukemia research fundraiser in honor of head coach Chuck Pagano.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Texans running back Arian Foster warms up before the game.

Texans running back Arian Foster warms up before the game.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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On the Texans: Texans’ demise snowball began in New England

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INDIANAPOLIS — The frustration was evident on the faces of the Texans and coach Gary Kubiak. The same frustration appeared three times in the past four weeks.

It was a frustration they have been unable to vanquish, despite repeated calls for focus, intensity and elimination of mistakes.

Offensive stagnation. Costly penalties. Special-teams struggles. Turnovers. Debilitating third-and-longs. The whole gang returned Sunday when the Texans had a chance to secure the top seed in the AFC, when they knew what was at stake.

In a 28-16 loss to the Colts, mistakes became a trend, one the Texans will have to reverse if they are to succeed in the postseason. Sunday they fell all the way to the third seed, losing not only home-field advantage throughout the playoffs but also a first-round bye. They talked of needing to flip their play in the playoffs, and their challenge will come in reversing a dreadful December.

“We’re playing at home versus Cincinnati; that’s the one thing we have on our side,” center Chris Myers said. “We’re playing in our home stadium. We’ve got to use it to our advantage. But if we play like we did this past month, we’re not going to go anywhere in the playoffs.

Confidence remains
“I have full faith and confidence in this team,” Myers said. “We have all the talent in the world. Until you capitalize on that talent, it’s not going to do any good.”

Until the loss to the Patriots on Dec. 10, one facet or another of the game bailed out the Texans. If special teams struggled, the defense excelled. If the defense allowed big plays, quarterback Matt Schaub could lead a productive offensive attack, as he did in comeback wins over the Jaguars and Lions. And when the offense stalled, the defense orchestrated dominating performances in several games.

But the isolated problems congealed in New England against a team adept at pouncing on mistakes, the team with the second-best record in the AFC. Then the trend continued.

“It’s like you get used to doing something one way, and then it automatically becomes tougher,” defensive end Antonio Smith said. “The things you’re used to doing so easy get a little bit harder, but you’re going into it with the same mind frame, expecting the same outcomes. Teams are coming to play us with a whole other mind frame. I could feel it out there on the field. A whole other intensity. We’ve got to find that same thing.”

Big plays surrendered
Sunday, the Texans allowed a 60 percent third-down conversion rate, including a 70-yard touchdown on third-and-23. Their kickoff coverage unit gave up a 101-yard touchdown, and the return teams yielded little. They scored only one touchdown in three trips to the red zone.

When running back Arian Foster scored that touchdown in the third quarter, it was the Texans’ first TD in nine quarters. Schaub had two interceptions, both of which might have been touchdowns if thrown differently. He finished with a 66.3 passer rating.

They lost a challenge on which they asserted there were 12 Colts defensive players on the field. They committed nine penalties, losing 64 yards, and were called for three the Colts declined.

For the Texans to truly turn back toward their goals, urgency must be combined with crispness, execution and the elimination of the mistakes upon which good teams — playoff teams — can pounce.